Packaging machine



\ Nov. 9, 1943. s. R. HOWARD PACKAGING MACHINE filed Oct. 15, 1940 4Sheets$heet l AMQLL Avh ATTOR Y lNVENTOR M J.s

h w E. 5 E

NOV. 9, 194-3. 5 HOWARD 2,333,790

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR h KMNov. 9, 1943. s. R. HOWARD I PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15,

1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR BY M W as cp u AITOR EY Nov, 9, 1943. R,HQWARD momma mcnmn Filed Oct. 15, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w m M mMJ 4Patented Nov. 9, 1943 PACKAGING MACHINE Stanley R. Howard, Milton,Mass., assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass, acorporation of Massachusetts Application October 15, 1940, Serial No.361,260

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a packaging machine. The invention has for anobject to provide a novel and improved packaging machine provided with avibratory feeding trough capable of deiivering a plurality of uniformstreams and having provision for weighing one of the streams and havingcontrol mechanism for terminating the feed of the material when theweighed load reaches a predetermined amount whereby a plurality ofsubstantially equal loads may be obtained in a rapid and simplifiedmanner.

Another object of the invention is to provide I a novel and improvedmaterial feeding mechanism including vibratory feeding trough divided toprovide a plurality of substantially equal paths for delivery of thematerial and in which provision is made for adjusting the paths toobtain a greater or less volume of material being fed.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the packaging machine, the materialfeeding mechanism, and in the various structures, arrangements andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined inthe claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of theinvention, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a packaging machine embodyingthe invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in cross section, ofthe machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the containertransferring and conveying mechanism, to be referred to; Fig. 4 is aplan view of the material feeding mechanism; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectionalview on the line 5--5 of the material feeding trough shown in Fig. 4;Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and Fig. '7is a detail view. in cross section, of one of the adjustable dividingmembers shown in Fig. 5.

In general, the present invention contemplates a packaging machine ofnovel and simplified construction having a vibratory feeding troughcapable of delivering a plurality of substantially uniform streams ofmaterial into a plurality of containers and in which provision is madefor weighing the material delivered in one stream and for simultaneouslycutting off all of the streams when the weighed load reaches apredetermined amount, to the end that a plurality of loads ofsubstantially equal weight may be delivered by the machine.- In thepreferred embodiment of the invention, the vibratory feeding trough issubdivided to provide a plurality of substantially equal paths or runscapable of being adjusted to provide streams of substantially uniformcross section. feeding 'a plurality of containers into operativeposition to receive the loads delivered by the trough, one of thecontainers being preferably separated from the main group thereof andsupported upon a weighing scale. In practice, the streams are guidedinto the containers through suitable funnels having provision forcutting off the streams through connections from the weighing scale.

In general, the illustrated machine embodies some of the featuresillustrated and described in the United States patent to Howard, No.1,893,.

622, issued January 10, 1933, particularly with reference to theweighing mechanism, package feeding mechanism, and control mechanism towhich reference may be made for a complete description thereof. For thepurposes of the present invention, only suillcient portions of thecomp'lete weighing machine have been herein illustrated and will bedescribed as appear to be necessary for a complete understanding of theinvention. In the Howard machine, and in other prior weighing machinesof which I am aware, a plurality of individual weighing units areprovided, and in the operation of the machine, the machine cannot starton a cycle of operation until all of the independently operated weighingoperations have been performed during the pre ceding cycle, so that ifone scale should be operating at a slow rate, the other scales aredelayed until it has completed its weighing operations. The presentinvention eliminates this delay.

Referring now to the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, in general the packaging machine comprises a supplyhopper Ill through which the material to be pack aged is permitted toflow by gravity into a vibratory feeding trough I: provided with aplurality of stationary partition walls [4 and a plurality of adjustablewalls l6 between which the material, withdrawn from the supply hopper,is fed by the vibratory movement of the trough. The supply hopper I0 isprovided with an adjustable collar [8 in order to control the amount ofmaterial withdrawn from the hopper, and a vertically adjustable plate 20disposed in front of the hopper outlet and extending across the feedingtrough is provided to control the depth of the material being fed. Asherein shown, the plate 20 is adustably secured to angle bars 22attached to the sides of the trough l2.

The stationary partition walls M are equally spaced in the trough and asillustrated in detail Provision is also made for in Figs. 4 and 5, theadjustable walls I6 are supported in the trough by threaded lugs 24which cooperate with threaded sleeves 26 adjustably secured to crossshafts 28, 30. The. shafts 28, 30 are journaled in bearing brackets 32,34 attached to the sides of the trough and the shafts are connectedtogether to be rotated simultaneously by a chain 36 running'oversprockets 38, 40, fast on the shafts 28, 30 respectively. A hand wheel42 mounted on the shaft 28 is provided to permit manual rotation of theshafts. In operation, when the shafts are rotated in one direction, thethreaded lugs 24 riding on the threaded sleeves 26 effect movement ofthe movable partitions I6 in a direction toward their respectivestationary partition walls I4 in order to simultaneously and uniformlydecrease the width of the streams of material in the trough. Conversely,rotation of the hand wheel 42 in the opposite direction will effect auniform widening of the streams. Provision is also made for individuallyadjusting the movable walls I6 byloosening the set screws 44 in thesleeves 26 and manually sliding the sleeves longitudinally of the shafts28, 30 to their adjusted position whereupon the set screws are againtightened up to permit simultaneous adjustment as above described. Itwill b observed that adjacent stationary and movable dividing walls I4,II are hingedly connected together at the ends near the supply hopper byhinged plates 46 forming V-shaped ends which serve to divide the widestream of material passing under the plate 28 into separate paths 0:runs .45 of substantially uniform cross section.

The vibratory feeding trough is arranged to be operated by a vibratorymotor 48 of any usual or preferred form, which, as herein shown, isyieldingly mounted on a supporting platform 50 attached to the machineframe. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the material feeding end of thetrough is provided with plurality of funnels 52 arranged to guide thedivided streams of material through a chamber housing 535 having feed.cut-off chambers 54 and. into containers 55 cup ported therebeneath.

A plurality of containers, herein shown as a group of live containersare simultaneously filled and as illustrated, one of the containers issupported on the weighing end of a scale beam 58 which may andpreferably will comprise one of the weighing units shown and describedin the Howard patent above referred to. The feed cutoff chamber 54 areprovided with, a material cut-ofl blade or shutter 60 arranged to beoperated by control mechanism indicated generally at 62 adapted to beactuated by movement of the scale beam 58 to cut off the supply of material when a predetermined weight reached in the weighed load. Duringthe time the streams ar cut off, the vibratory feeding trough maycontinue to feed material into the chambers 54 to accumulate loadstherein to be deposited into the next successive group of containersmoved into filling position.

As illustrated and described in the Howard Patent No. 1,893,622, themachine is arranged to be operated in successive cycles, a completecycle comprising a package filling or weighing cycle anda package movingcycle. As herein shown, provision is made for transferring a group offive containers from a line thereof supported upon an incoming belt 66,and for this purpose, the incoming containers are arranged to come torest against a stop plate and a pusher bar 61, of known construction, isarranged to transfer a group of containers from the incoming belt intothe path of carrier fingers 10. The carrier fingers 10 are carried on achain "I2 running over sprockets I4, I6 which are arranged to beoperated to advance the filled group of containers onto a discharge beltI8 and to advance a new group of containers into filling position. Themechanism for transferring and advancing the containers as abovedescribed may and preferably will comprise the mechanism illustrated inthe Howard patent above referred to.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, when the containers 56 come to rest infilling position, the last four containers of the group are supportedupon a stationary supportingplate while the fifth or leading container,still in contiguous engagement with the next succeeding container, restsupon the scale pan 5'! of the scale beam 58. Provision is made formoving the leading container 56 away from the next succeeding containerin order that the container on the scale may be free to weigh, and asherein shown, the scale pan 5'! is arranged to be moved laterally afterthe main group of cartons has come to rest. The movement of the scalepan is effected through connections from a cam 82 fast on a cam shaft84, the latter forming part of the com trol mechanism described in saidHoward patent. The cam 82 is designed so that the separating movementoccurs at the end of the package carrier movement, As herein shown, thescale pan 5'] is provided with depending lugs 86, 88 slidably mounted onrods iii secured in the outer end of the scale beam 5t, see Fig. l. Atension spring 92 is connected between the lug B8 and a portion of thescale beam 58. In operation, at the start of the carrier movement andthereafter until the package carrier movement is almost completed, thescale 5'! is held to the right, viewing 1, against the action of thespring 92 by the .gemen't of a pin 94 on the upper end of lever 96 withan arm 98 fixed to the scale id depending therefrom. The rock lever Skiis secured at its lower nd to a rock shaft I00 which is journaled in themachine frame. A lever I02, also fast on the rock shaft I00 is connectedby a link I04 to one arm I06 of a bellcrank pivoted at I08. A cam rollIID carried by the second arm II2 of the bellcrank cooperates with thecam 82 and is held in engagement therewith by a spring II4 connectedbetween a collar II6 secured on the link Hi4 and a portion of themachine frame; In operation, when the container feeding movement isnearly completed, the rock lever 96 is moved through the connectionsdescribed, in a counterclockwise direction, view Fig. 1, to permit thescale pan 5! to slide on the rods to the left under the influence of thespring 92 thus moving the leading or foremost container away from themain body of the group to prevent interference during the subsequentweighing operation.

From the description thus far it will be ob served that a group of fivecontainers are presented in operative position beneath the chambers 54during one portion of a cycle in the operation of the machine and thatone of the containers is disposed on a scale pan 5"! separated from theremainder of the group. During a sucseeding portion of the completecycle of operation, the shutter 60 is opened, the accumulated loads inthe chambers 54 are released into the containers, and the streams ofmaterial being delivered by the feeding trough I2 continue to flow intothe containers until a predetermined weight is reached in the weighedload, whereupon, as above described, the shutter 60 is closed and thepackage moving'cycle of operation is initiated.

An outline of the construction and operation of the control mechanismindicated generally at 52 for opening and closing the shutter 60, for

starting and stopping the carrier moving cycle, and for performing otheroperations incidental to the operation of the weighing machine, will nowbe described in a general way, reference being made to the aforesaidHoward patent for a full and complete disclosure thereof. nowparticularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a main'driving shaft IN is continuouslydriven through any usual or preferred driving connections, not shown. Apawl and ratchet clutch indicated generally at I22, having one memberfast on the shaft I and another member loosely mounted thereon, isarranged to be engaged during the operation of the machine to rotate acam disk I24 formed integrally with the loosely mounted member of theclutch. The clutch is designed to permit but one half a revolution ofthe cam disk I24 at one time and as herein shown, the disk is providedwith a cam lug I26 arranged to open the shutter 60 at the start of theweighing operation and to close the shutter at the end of the weighingoperation. The shutter 60 is mounted on arms I28 fast on a cross shaftI30 journaled in bearing brackets I32 attached to the chamber housing53. A lever I34 also fast on the shaft I30 is connected by a link I36 toone arm I38 of a two-armed lever pivotally mounted in the housing 53,the second arm I40 being connected by a link I42 to a lever I44 pivotedat I46 in a bracket I48 attached to the machine frame. The lever I44 isprovided with two lugs I50, I52 adapted to be engaged by the disk lugI26 to rock the lever I44 clockwise to close the shutter during one halfrevolution of the disk I24 and to rock the lever I44 counterclockwiseduring a subsequent one half revolution through the connectionsdescribed. Provision is also made for locking the scale beam 58 when theshutter 60 is closed through suitable connections indicated generally ati54 arranged to be actuated by the periphery of the cam disk I24 so asto permit the filled containers to be moved across the scale pan 5!during the carrier moving portion of the cycle.

The carrier operating mechanism, indicated generally at I56 is arrangedto be operated through connections from the main driving shaft I20including a pawl and ratchet clutch I58 which is arranged to be engagedand disengaged through connections indicated generally atI60. Theconnections I60 are operativ'ely connected to the scale lockingmechanism I54 to op erate simultaneously therewith so that in operation,when the shutter 60 is closed, the scale beam 58 is locked and thecarrier mechanism is operated to advance the different groups ofcontainers as hereinbefore described. During the second half revolutionof the cam disk I24, the shutter 60 is opened and the scale beam 58 isunlocked to initiate another weighing operation.

The pawl and ratchet clutch I22 is controlled through connections fromthe scale beam 58, to terminate the feed of the material when apredetermined weight is reached, as fully described in the Howard patentabove referred to, and as herein shown, such connections may include arocking pawl stop carrier I62 which, when rocked Referring 1 ISI in onedirection, permits the disk IN to rotate one half revolution to open theshutter 60, and when rocked in the opposite direction, permits one halfrevolution of the disk to close the shutter. During the weighingoperation, the rocking pawl carrier is held in a position to permit theshutter 60 to open by an electromagnet I64, normally energized; throughconnections includingthe linkage I65; The electromagnet I64 is energized by a circuit including a switch I68 arranged to be openedby themovement of the scale beam 58 when .the predetermined weight is reached.The shaft- 84 may be driven through connections from the carrier movingmechanism, and in practice, suitable resetting mechanism indicatedgenerally at I10, may be provided which is, actuated thrpugh connectionsfrom the shaft 84 as fully disclosed in the Howard Patent No. 1,893,622.In operation, when a predetermined weight is reached'in the weighedcontainer,

the movement of the"? scale beam 58 will open the circuit to theelectromagnet I64 at the switch I68 thus deenergizing' the electromagnetand permittingthepawlsfiip carrier I62 tobe rocked by a spring,,n'otshown. Rocking of ,the pawl stop I62, as'above described, effectsclosing of the gateGIl to terminate the feed of the material and toinitiate the carrier movement to start another cycle of operation.

From the above, description of the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be observed that the present construction of thepackaging machine enables increased production of a plurality of loadsof'substantially uniform weight to be obtained in a machine embodying asingle weighing mechanism, thus simplifying the ma chine and effectingan economy in manufacturing and maintenance costs. It will also beobserved that the incorporation of the vibratory material feedingmechanism having provision for dividing the material into a plurality ofsubstantially uniform streams in a packaging machine adapted to Weighone of the streams contributes greatly to the accuracy with which themachine may operate.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A packaging machine having, in combination, a substantiallyhorizontal vibratory material feeding trough containing dividing membersconstructed and arranged to feed material in a plurality of and at leastthree substantially iniform streams, meansfor controlling the flow ofeach of said streams, a weighing device for weighing the materialdeposited by onl one of said streams, and connections between saidweighing device and said flow controlling means adapted to terminate theflow of said plurality of streams when the weighed load reaches apredetermined amount whereby to produce one weighed load and a pluralityof additional unweighed loads, each ofapproximately the weight of saidweighedload.

2. In a packaging machine, in combination, a vibratory material feedingtrough, means for separating the material in the trough into a pluralityof and at least three substantially uniform' streams, said meansincluding a series of fixed plates, a movable plate cooperalole witheach or" said fixed plates and means hingeclly connecting the inner endof each fixed plate with its cooperating movable plate, a weighingdevice for weighing the material deposited by one of said streams, andmeans controlled by said weighing device for simultaneously terminatingthe flow of said plurality of streams to form a plurality of loads whenthe weighed load has reached a predetermined amount, to thereby produceone weighed load and a plurality of additional unweighed loads each ofsubstantially the weight of the weighed load.

3. A packaging machine having, in combination, a vibratory materialfeeding trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinally disposeddividing plates for dividing the material into a plurality of and atleast three substantially uniform streams, a weighing device forweighing the material deposited by one of said streams, and meanscontrolled by said weighing device for simultaneously terminating thefiow of said plurality of streams to form a plurality of loads when theweighed load has reached a predetermined amount, to thereby produce aplurality of unweighed loads each approximately equal to said weighedload.

4. A packaging machine having, in combination, a vibratory materialfeeding trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinally disposeddividing plates for dividing the material into a plurality of and atleast three substantially uniform streams, means for adjusting saiddividing plates to change the width of said streams, a weighing devicefor weighing the material deposited by one of said streams, and meanscontrolled by said weighing device for simultaneously terminating thefiow of said plurality of streams to forms. plurality of loads when theweighed load has reached a predetermined amount to thereby produce aplurality of unweighed loads each approximately equal to said weighedload.

5. A packaging machine having, in combination, a vibratory materialfeeding trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinally disposeddividing plates for dividing the material into a plurality of and atleast three substantially uniform streams, means for simultaneously anduniformly adjusting the amount of material comprising each of saidstreams, a weighing device for weighing the material deposited by one ofsaid streams, and means controlled by said weighing device forsimultaneously terminating the flow of said plurality of streams to forma, plurality of loads when the weighed load has reached a predeterminedamount to thereby produce a plurality of unweighed loads eachapproximately equal to said weighed load.

6. A packaging machine having, in combination, a. vibratory materialfeeding trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinally disposeddividing plates for dividing the material into a plurality of and atleast three streams of substantially uniform width, and a transverselydisposed plate arranged to control the depth of said streams, whereby aplurality of streams of substantially equal cross section are produced,a weighing device for weighing the material deposited by one of saidstreams, and means controlled by said weighing device for simultaneouslyterminating the flow of said plurality of streams to form a plurality ofloads when the weighed load has reached a predetermined amount tothereby produce a plurality of unweighed loads each approximately equalto said weighed load.

7. A packaging machine having, in combination, a vibratory materialfeeding trough having a plurality of spaced longitudinally disposeddividing plates for dividing the material into a plurality of and atleast three substantially uniform streams, container moving meansarranged to present a plurality of containers in position to receivesaid streams, means for separating one of said containers from theremainder of the group, a weighing device for weighing the materialdeposited by one of said streams into said one container, and meanscontrolled by said weighing device for simultaneously terminating theflow of said plurality of streams to form a plurality of loads when theweighed load has reached a predetermined amount to thereby produce aplurality of unweighed loads, each approximately equal to said weighedload.

8. In a packaging machine, in combination, a material feeding trough,means in said trough for dividing the material passing through saidtrough into a plurality of streams of substantially uniformcross-sectional area, said means including a series 01' fixed plates, amovable plate cooperable with each of said fixed plates, means hingedlyconnecting the inner end of each fixed plate with its cooperatingmovable plate and means interconnecting said movable plates forsimultaneous adjustment in substantially parallel relation to said fixedplates, a weighing device for weighing the material deposited by one ofsaid streams, and means controlled by said weighing device forsimultaneously terminating the fiow of said plurality or streams to forma plurality of loads when the weighed load has reached a predeterminedamount, to thereby produce one weighed load and a plurality ofadditional unweighed loads each of substantially the weight of theweighed load.

9. In a packaging machine, in combination, a material feeding trough,means in said trough including a series 01 fixed plates, a movable platecooperable with each of said fixed plates and means associated with theinner ends of said plates arranged to, prevent fiow of material throughthe space between a fixed plate and its associated movable plate,iordividing the material in the trough into a plurality of streams ofsubstantially equal cross-sectional area, a weighing device for weighingthe material deposited by one of said streams and means controlled bysaid weighing device fo simultaneously terminating the fiow of saidplurality of streams to form a plurality of loads when the weighed loadhas reached a predetermined amount, to thereby produce one weighed loadand a plurality of additional unweighed loads each of substantially theweight of the weighed load.

STANLEY R. HOWARD.

